Chicago on Edge: Businesses Board Up, Democrats Advised to Use Aliases as Pro-Hamas Protests Loom at DNC

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago starting on Monday. If you are a Chicagoan this news might not be very welcome, unless you like violent protests.

Pro-Hamas demonstrators are expected to be in large numbers at the convention. Law enforcement warned those who were nervous about attending the event to be cautious:

Axios learned that congressional security officials are advising House Democrats who will be attending the Democratic National Convention in New York next week not to book hotels under their names or interact with protesters when confronted.

What if I told you that all of these protests are considered by Democrats to be “mostly peaceful”, and consist of well-meaning citizens who are simply exercising their First Amendment rights, but they’re not?

Why it matters: Some Democratic lawmakers fear for their safety following a series of disruptive pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have occurred since the Israel-Hamas War began last year.

• One House Democrat said to Axios that they were “very concerned” for their safety and “obviously” so are other legislators.
• A senior House Democrat claimed that law enforcement was telling its members not to “go to a particular area because they expect violence.”
• The lawmaker said that “the protesters won’t stay in designated protest sites… there will be people who go and try to cause real trouble.”

Businesses in Second City, including many who have been through “peaceful demonstrations” in the past, are boarding up windows and taking other precautions to prepare for vandalism and violent protests.

Some business owners in Chicago’s Loop are taking precautions due to concerns about possible unrest at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Downtown, Thursday, you can see boarded-up windows and doors.

Scott Shapiro is the owner of SydJerome.

Shapiro, the store owner, has seen it all before.

Shapiro says he took precautions because of the looming uncertainties ahead of the convention next week.

Shapiro explained that “we felt it prudent to board up since our customers and employers have told them to remain at home during the convention for their safety.”

The storefront of Syd Jerome, located on Clark Street in downtown Chicago, is covered with plywood as thousands of protesters prepare to descend upon Chicago for the DNC.

His store was looted in civil unrest in 2020.

He didn’t remove the plywood for more than a full year.

It’s time to get back on the horse, for fear that history will repeat itself.

This building looks more like a fortress now:

When the Democrats plan to hold a convention and everyone knows there will be violent protests months in advance, it’s a sign that we are living in a new age. This is also a reflection of their character. You didn’t expect this to happen before the GOP convention held in Milwaukee, in July.

How bad will the storm be?